Nagayasu Ogasawara was born in Osaka, Japan in 1940. When he was 10 years old he started judo practice in a small dojo in his village. With continued practice, he became proficient enough to become captain of various judo clubs in his middle school, high school, and college at Kokushikan University in Tokyo. After graduation, he became instructor of physical education and a judo coach at Kokushikan University, where he remained for four years. In 1967, Mr. Ogasawara came to the United States to teach judo. Since his arrival, he has coached many champions and prize winning judo teams at both state, national and world levels throughout the United States.

He trained Liliko Ogasawara, his daughter who made the 1996 Olympic Judo Team and was the 1993 World Silver Medalist and 1995 World Bronze Medalist, and Celita Schutz, a 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympian. Mr. Ogasawara was chief judo instructor at Kokushi Dojo in Westwood (1967 – 2006). Presently he is chief Instructor of kokushi dojo at Wyckoff Family YMCA in Wyckoff, New Jersey, where he teaches many young people and adults the sport of judo. From 1984 through 1989, he was an associate professor at the United States branch of Kokushikan University. In 1989 Mr. Ogasawara became the head judo coach at West Point United States Military Academy Judo Club until 1996. Mr. Ogasawara received 1994 National Collegiate Coach of the Year and 1996 Olympic Coach of the Year in Judo. He was a teacher of 9/11 United Airline fright #93 Hero Jeremy Glick.